Chot Reyes’ Gilas Pilipinas is getting all the help it can get for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Just a month after adding Ginebra head coach Tim Cone to his staff, San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua also accepted a role to become the executive advisor to not just Gilas, but also the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
And Reyes is just glad to have Chua on his side.
“We need all the help we can get. So I completely welcome it, we are all-inclusive. Lahat ng support at tulong na makukuha natin, we are wide open,” he said moments after his TNT team took game one from SMC’s Magnolia, 108-96, on Wednesday.
Reyes and Chua have actually been in touch since the monumental meeting between the MVP and SMC groups last June 13.
In fact, the two, along with San Miguel governor Robert Non, arrived together during the PBA Press Corps Awards Night back on June 21.
The two bright basketball minds have constantly been talking about how to improve the national team program.
“I’m very happy, we’ve had several conversations over the phone with Gov. Alfrancis. He has been a big help,” the multiple-time PBA Coach of the Year continued.
“Yan yung mga nangyayari behind the scenes na hindi alam ng tao.”
Cone, meanwhile, is set to join Gilas’ staff on Saturday to finalize the pool for the fourth window of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Gilas will face Lebanon in Beirut on the 25th before hosting Saudi Arabia on the 29th.
They will be joined by assistant coaches Jong Uichico and Nenad Vucinic.
“We have one more meeting with the coaches on Saturday, including Coach Tim Cone. We’ve had a lot of conversations with Tim but this will be the first time we will sit down and brainstorm for the pool,” said Reyes, adding that Cone will sit on the bench during those games.
As for Cone’s Ginebra players, Reyes said that there will definitely be some Ka-Barangays in the pool.
“That’s the plan,” he said.
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